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Stawell Pea Rifle Fatality

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ON THIS DAY – May 5, 1924

The trial was concluded for John Norman Gray (21), who was charged with having murdered his wife, Veronica Mavis Gray, at Stawell on May 5. Mrs. Gray fell dead at their home as the result of a bullet wound, the rifle being allegedly held by her husband. Gray gave sworn evidence that he did not know that the rifle was loaded, when it exploded. He had put it to his shoulder and aimed it at both his mother-in-law and his wife.  The jury returned a verdict of not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Gray was remanded for sentence.

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Queenscliff Road Shooting

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ON THIS DAY – April 28. 1930

GEELONG

MANSLAUGHTER – MAXIMUM SENTENCE IMPOSED.

Eric Harris Brockwell aged 24, at the Geelong Supreme Court was found guilty by a jury of the manslaughter of Horace Thomas Walpole, taxi-driver, on April 28. The Chief Justice, Sir William Irvine, said that the jury, by finding him guilty of manslaughter, had been very lenient. Therefore, he would impose the maximum sentence for manslaughter, 15 years.

THE FACT

With a bullet wound in his head. Walpole was found dead in his taxi on the Queenscliffe-road on April 28. In a statement which he read from the dock, Brockwell admitted that he had engaged Walpole to drive him, and that he had an argument with Walpole. He added that he pulled out a sawn-off rifle and tried to frighten Walpole.

THE “EXCUSE.”

“I had no intention of killing him.” said Brockwell “and I am not guiltv of murder. I was muddled with drink at the time.”

 

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Stawell Pea Rifle Fatality

, ,

ON THIS DAY – May 5, 1924

The trial was concluded for John Norman Gray (21), who was charged with having murdered his wife, Veronica Mavis Gray, at Stawell on May 5. Mrs. Gray fell dead at their home as the result of a bullet wound, the rifle being allegedly held by her husband. Gray gave sworn evidence that he did not know that the rifle was loaded, when it exploded. He had put it to his shoulder and aimed it at both his mother-in-law and his wife.  The jury returned a verdict of not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Gray was remanded for sentence.

/by

Queenscliff Road Shooting

, ,

ON THIS DAY – April 28. 1930

GEELONG

MANSLAUGHTER – MAXIMUM SENTENCE IMPOSED.

Eric Harris Brockwell aged 24, at the Geelong Supreme Court was found guilty by a jury of the manslaughter of Horace Thomas Walpole, taxi-driver, on April 28. The Chief Justice, Sir William Irvine, said that the jury, by finding him guilty of manslaughter, had been very lenient. Therefore, he would impose the maximum sentence for manslaughter, 15 years.

THE FACT

With a bullet wound in his head. Walpole was found dead in his taxi on the Queenscliffe-road on April 28. In a statement which he read from the dock, Brockwell admitted that he had engaged Walpole to drive him, and that he had an argument with Walpole. He added that he pulled out a sawn-off rifle and tried to frighten Walpole.

THE “EXCUSE.”

“I had no intention of killing him.” said Brockwell “and I am not guiltv of murder. I was muddled with drink at the time.”

 

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